Advanced Search

Otolaryngology Coding Alert

READER QUESTION:

69433 vs. 69436: Look at Anesthesia

Published on Wed Jan 17, 2007

Question: Does the description of 69436 (Tympanostomy [requiring insertion of ventilating tube], general anesthesia) mean that an anesthesiologist's services are included in the physician's service?


Kansas Subscriber


Answer: No. Code 69436 doesn't include anesthesia services. The anesthesiologist should bill his own code for that according to the time the patient was anesthetized.

The inclusion of -general anesthesia- in 69436's descriptor is meant to differentiate it from tympanostomy not requiring general anesthesia. For office-based tympanostomy using local or topical anesthesia, the appropriate code is 69433 (Tympanostomy [requiring insertion of ventilating tube], local or topical anesthesia). When a physician performs tympanostomy in an operating room using general anesthesia, you instead report 69436.
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Otolaryngology Coding Alert

View All